Looking for my fathers family can you help

Philomena Croghan

Swinford Mayo, Longford originally,  Clomboney, Old Ballinalee road. Clomboney Church was across the road at the time. A Tully man makes headstones there now.  but majority of her life in England. Mussell Hill North Hill London England. I schooled in Clomboney National school Lost my father at an early age of 11. I ran off to England when just before I was 14 years of age. I got work straight away, with nuns who ran ''Irish Sister Of Charity, a hospice, St Joseph's. Told them I was 17 years of age, did my training as a general nurse when I was actually 17. up until I was 20 years of age, then I went onto to study more. studied Forensics, and psychiatry. you had a choice, after general nursing if you wanted to study more. Many choose midwifery. I wanted a challenge I was interested in, took two more years or more when I studying, and working and also had a family. I married and remarried later on in life having 5 children in all. Delia with me here today, she was a great help, when I was working studying she helped with the house chores and getting the others ready, either for bed or for school in morning, depending on my work hours. my other kids are Lesley, Hazel, Rishi and Sashi.

Hazel has three kids of her own now, Dean Ben & Jake. Lesley has three also, Katie, Jack & Tom. Delia has three too, Daniel, Rhys & Kiera. and out the boys Rishsi has one son Max.

My parents, Mel & Elizabeth 'Lee' Croghan. My mother went to Boston, Masschetus, when she was young came back when she was 8 years old. she came home alone, having gone over with both parents. unsure what happened, my grandparents, Katie Lee, and grandfather I only know was a Farrell.

My parents had five kids too, myself and Molly, Kathleen, Bridie , Peggy 'Margarette, and one brother William. William is missing, lost contact when our mother passed away. he used to be in London, but after that unknown, either he started a new life for himself which he was capable of. thinking either Australia or America.

My work  was in Whittington, Royal Free Hampstead, Hospice Fran Barnet. My skills, got me interested jobs to say the least. I was alongside a psychiatrist, when assessor , people at the magistrates courts, we waited in the bowels for the courts, to see if people were genuine or not. a lot were needing a bed, meaning help psychiatry help. There was some always trying to pull a fast one. saying they could hear voices and such. but a golden rule was after an hour, you could tell, they were trying to pull a fast one. and some got very aggressive, a few times 'some actually tried to strangle me, another try to stab me. my main work was hospital,  also community nursing, follow up care on discharged patients. I also had a suicide group, a group that tried to do it. was very interesting, I actually had to say very little, Id just start them going with first question, why do you wish to not I've in this life. and they all helped each other. one would say, I wanted to not live because my wife left me, next person would say that's a silly reason, and so on, until they would all see the futility of their original thoughts, and help each other and move on. I retired in 2007. but I haven't stopped, I am president of St Vincent De Paul's in Mayo, I organise at least five major conferences. The last three years, I have helped a young student, whom was in a bad way with many issues, but has come on leaps and bounds since. I moved to Swinford ten years ago, I sold my home and set up in Ireland. I have one aim, and that's how we met. I am looking for my father's family. I know my mothers side, but not Croghan side of County Longford. He was a big man six foot five, he  also worked as a door man in the infamous Galtee Moore Cricklewood, made famous by a Brendan Shine, who sang , where did you meet her, I met her at the Galtee Moore. He played in band also Buffalo band In Camben Town. he could play Tambourine, sing, violin. He was blacksmith in County Longford. I went to cemetery Sunday in Ballinalee recently , I got talking to a Tommy Ward, who knew my father. I owe it to him to find his family. grandparents, Catherine 'O'Brian' Croghan, and Arthur Croghan had 11 kids, one of which was my father. this was a time when in 1875, they started to register, people and kids, two of their kids weren't registered, they had them before, the new law came in. all his siblings are as follows, Elizabeth, Mary, Emely, William, Arthur, Albert, Charles, Agnes, and Caroline.

Never forget the early days, growing up on a bog road. but I loved it, a lot wouldn't understand or let a lone do it. we had no electricity, we made our own food. which I might add I am doing again now. sometimes we went to school with no shoes. remember having boots though, Hobnail boots, and I was fond of kicking things. so my dad being a blacksmith, bent around a tin piece on the tip of my boots. there is still some gates around the are my father worked and as a blacksmith.

I taught my kids from a young age the benefits of learning house chores, also to cooking, from apple tarts to Curry, and also to grow their own. I remember my mother had a book, that was 3 4 inches thick, and all recipes for spuds. can you imagine, wish I had that book, that went missing.

I also taught my kids the value of talking, speaking the truth always to be honest. but talk to me, no matter what time of day or night, and no matter the subject, from sex to cooking, no boundaries. Delia, whom was sitting beside us, jumped in with, ''I was, out on a night out, listening to Wolfe tones, mums farewell party. my drink got spiked, I could sense it, my throat first then my arms and legs, I couldn't move them. but thank God my mother came into the bar, all I could do was move my eyes, my mother knew straight away something was wrong. Philomena said ''you could see she was in a bad way, I had to bring her to the car, she literally couldn't move her legs arms. found out there was a date rape drug in her body from test results. Delia went on to say ''for five days, it was with me, slowly went, it was terrifying.

Philomena went on to say ''many things I passed onto my kids, like if there was something I couldn't get them now, I would say, do not steal, If I cant get them now, I will at another time. and if you cant respect other you cannot respect yourself, and I have always said live everyday as if it is your last.

if you know of anybody that may know, the family she is looking for. please contact and I will pass on details. very descriptive details of names and family and area. pass on and share, lets reunite Philomena with her fathers family.